Having been at the top for such a long time now, it's no surprise that Nintendo is responsible for some of the biggest and most successful franchises in all of gaming. However, being in possession of so many popular series arguably has its downsides, with the Japanese giant often struggling to give all of its IPs their fair share of time in the spotlight.
PlayStation Franchise Tier List (The Best PlayStation Franchises)
​​​​​​​The best PlayStation franchises have sold countless copies between them and boast some of the most impressive Metascores in gaming history.
Some Nintendo franchises seem to be treated to new games on an annual basis, while others have gone entire console generations without seeing a new installment. As such, trying to figure out the best Nintendo franchises can be a little tricky, as both the quality and quantity of games that each one possesses will need to be taken into account.
S-Tier Nintendo Franchises
The Best of the Best
Mario
Even without the seemingly endless supply of sports and racing-themed spin-off games, few would dispute Mario's status as Nintendo's best franchise. The Italian plumber has starred in some of the greatest video games of all time and continues to deliver hit after hit more than four decades on from his arcade debut. It's not just the same game every time either, with each new Mario game bringing something different to the table.
The Legend of Zelda
Aside from the god-awful CD-i titles, it's difficult to think of a bad Zelda game. In fact, the vast majority of them are viewed as masterpieces, with Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild just the latest in a long line of innovative Zelda games that have helped to reinvigorate the industry; entertaining millions of players along the way. It's a series that spans multiple genres and has left its mark on many, particularly when it comes to open-world and action-adventure games.
The Complete Chronological Order Of Legend Of Zelda Games
More than three decades of Legend of Zelda history can be arranged in chronological order to see the plot progress from one game to the next.
A-Tier Nintendo Franchises
Some of Gaming's All-Time Greats
Pokemon
If a franchise's quality and value were determined solely by its sales potential, Pokemon would be firmly in the S-tier of any Nintendo franchise tier list. However, technical issues and an overall lack of innovation have been holding the series back a little as of late, particularly when it comes to the mainline Pokemon games. They're far from bad, but fall just a little short of greatness.
Smash Bros.
Masahiro Sakurai's Smash Bros. continues to go from strength to strength, with each new game being better than the last. Like Pokemon, though, the formula hasn't changed all that much since the series made its debut back in the late nineties, making it difficult to place it alongside the likes of Mario and The Legend of Zelda​​​​​​.
Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing may not be to everybody's tastes, but for most cozy game aficionados, it's right up there with the genre's very best. It would have been nice to have seen the team over at Nintendo EPD support New Horizons for a little longer than they ultimately did, but the Happy Home Paradise expansion made up for this somewhat.
Metroid
There's perhaps an argument to be made that Nintendo has too many fantastic franchises, which can in turn lead to some of them being neglected over time. This definitely seems to be the case when it comes to Metroid, with Samus' outings being severely limited over the past decade or so. Whenever she does resurface for a new adventure though, it generally ends up being a good one, which is why people are so excited for Metroid Prime 4​​​​​.
Mother (EarthBound)
As much as some would love to see a new Mother game, a lot of people feel as though the series is perfect as it is. At the time of its initial release, it offered players a welcome alternative to the games being churned out by the likes of Square and Enix and it remains one of the most unique RPG franchises even to this day. A Western release of Mother 3 would be nice, but there are at least fan translations available for those eager to experience the series' final game for themselves.
22 Games Inspired By Earthbound
There are a lot of amazingly good games out there that were inspired by the iconic Earthbound. Here's a look at some of the best.
B-Tier Nintendo Franchises
Nice but Niche
Fire Emblem
It took a while for the Fire Emblem franchise to finally make its way West. Once it did though, it proved to be every bit as popular as it was in Japan, helping to bring the tactical RPG genre to a brand-new audience with a plethora of hugely popular Fire Emblem games. It sits in a relatively niche genre though, which arguably holds it back just a little.
Pikmin
Pikmin is one of Shigeru Miyamoto's favorite Nintendo franchises and it's easy to see why. It's one of the most unique series in the Japanese giant's repertoire and continues to reinvent itself with each new release. It may not rank among Nintendo's most profitable franchises, but it's definitely one of the company's most innovative and unique.
Splatoon
Only Nintendo could take a genre that's traditionally associated with bloodshed and violence and turn it into something so remarkably wholesome and refreshing. Granted, there are better third-person shooters out there, but few are anywhere near as charming as Splatoon, nor are there many that fit so perfectly with Nintendo's family-friendly focus.
Xenoblade Chronicles
The Xeno series started life on the PlayStation before eventually being snapped up by Nintendo in early 2007. These days, Xenoblade Chronicles is seen as one of the best modern-day JRPG franchises around, often going toe-to-toe with the likes of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Persona when it comes to both sales and critical acclaim.
Kirby
Kirby was born through a desire to make a game that was accessible to everyone. More than three decades on from the pink puffball's video game debut, the franchise still adheres to this simple principle, though has also found ways to incorporate more complex gameplay mechanics for those who crave a challenge.
Every Kirby Final Boss, Ranked
For a Nintendo game, Kirby has some existentially terrifying final bosses. Here are all the main ones ranked by how fun they are.
C-Tier Nintendo Franchises
Left to Decay
Donkey Kong
The original Donkey Kong Country games were three of the best 2D platformers ever created, and Donkey Kong 64 wasn't half bad either. Sadly, however, the franchise has been left out in the cold since Microsoft's acquisition of Rare, with only a handful of meaningful releases over the past few decades. Both the character and the series deserve better and fans will be hoping to see Nintendo do right by the great ape in the years to come.
Star Fox
If Donkey Kong has been hard done by, then so too has Fox McCloud. It's been more than 35 years since the last good Star Fox game, with the handful that have been released in the years since having struggled to live up to the greatness of their predecessors. Part of this is down to a sharp decline in the popularity of rail shooters, but it also feels as though the Star Fox team has been cast aside to a certain degree.
Game & Watch
Game & Watch played an important role in the initial success of Nintendo and will always be remembered in that regard. However, the industry has come a long way in the decades since then, and - aside from a few special releases to commemorate anniversaries - Nintendo has opted to leave Game & Watch where it arguably belongs: in the past. It's actually somewhat refreshing to see this, particularly when so many other classic franchises are being dragged into the 21st century despite there being no real need or desire to see them revived.
F-Zero
F-Zero is arguably one of the best racing franchises of all time, yet many people have never experienced it for themselves. This is because Nintendo failed to put out a single F-Zero game for almost two decades, and when one did finally arrive, it was a battle royale racer available exclusively through Nintendo Switch Online. Games like F-Zero and F-Zero GX still hold up surprisingly well though and thus are well worth checking out.
10 Nintendo Franchises Who Are Long Overdue For A New Game
These Nintendo franchises, many of them still beloved by fans, are long overdue for a new game.
